John Velazquez | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keeneland, Maker’s Mark Team Up To Support Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund

Keeneland and Maker's Mark® have a rich history of working hand-in-hand to benefit the community and the horse industry. This year is no exception as the two iconic Kentucky brands today announced the 2020 Maker's Mark® commemorative bottle, with all proceeds to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), an independent charitable organization that provides financial assistance to jockeys who have sustained debilitating on-track injuries.

Each Maker's Mark bottle has been signed in advance by the five leading active stakes-winning riders at Keeneland – Julien Leparoux, Robby Albarado, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano and Mike Smith – in addition to Maker's Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels and Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason.

The bottle's design features black wax on the top and neck, a green wax Keeneland seal on the front and a gold label featuring an illustration of a jockey in white and red silks aboard a Thoroughbred racehorse. The illustration is the work of Louisville artist Jeaneen Barnhart, renowned for a large portfolio of equine art that includes several posters for the Kentucky Derby Festival which she designed with her twin sister, Doreen.

Certain to become a collector's item, the bottle goes on sale July 3 in limited quantities around Kentucky.

“Jockeys are truly some of the best athletes in the world and put their lives on the line every time they mount a horse,” says PDJF President Nancy LaSala. “Because of this, we're so thrilled that two of Kentucky's great institutions – Keeneland and Maker's Mark – have come together in such a creative way to help disabled jockeys who can ride no more.”

“I've been involved with several Keeneland and Maker's Mark bottles that raise funds for worthy causes,” says Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. “But this one really is where my heart is. Autographing a bottle is such a simple thing to do, and it's great knowing that I'm playing a small role in helping other riders whose careers were cut short.”

“The people in the horse industry of Central Kentucky have played a big role in the history of Maker's Mark,” says Rob Samuels, who is an eighth-generation whisky maker. “When my grandfather started Maker's back in the 1950s, the horsemen supported him and helped spread the word that his bourbon was worth sharing. So, we're honored to share something back in a meaningful way.”

Keeneland and Maker's Mark formed a partnership in 1997 to create commemorative bottles each year for charitable organizations. Proceeds from the sales of previous commemorative bottles have raised millions to benefit everything from academic tutoring for student athletes to arts programs across the state to nonprofit organizations in the Thoroughbred industry.

“We are always gratified by the enthusiastic public response to the Maker's Mark commemorative bottle, and we are so pleased sales this year will benefit the critical work of the PDJF,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank our longstanding partner, Maker's Mark, and Julien, Robby, John, Javier and Mike for their strong support.”

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Gamine Shaves Over A Second Off Stakes Record, Smashes Competition In Acorn

A $1.8 million 2-year-old purchase, Michael Lund Peterson's Gamine made her graded stakes debut an impressive one in Saturday's Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old Into Mischief filly ran her opposition off their feet to win by over 15 lengths, delivering for trainer Bob Baffert and jockey John Velazquez as the 1-2 favorite.

Gamine's final time for the one-mile trip over a fast main track was a sparkling 1:32.55, shaving more than a second off the previous stakes record of 1:33.58, set last year by Guarana.

Breaking from the inside gate in the field of seven, Gamine went straight to the lead under Velazquez. She began to separate herself from the field after a first quarter in 22.48 seconds, pulling away by a length and a half to mark the half-mile in :45.28. Water White and Lucrezia attempted to go with her around the turn, but nearing the head of the lane Gamine had a three-length lead.

All alone after six furlongs in 1:09.33, Gamine continued to pull at the bridle and increase the distance between herself and her rivals down the stretch. By the wire, she was about 15 lengths ahead of Pleasant Orb in second, while Water White finished third. Lucrezia faded to fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, Gamine is out of the stakes-placed Kafwain mare Peggy Jane. With one winner from the mare's first two foals, Gamine sold for $220,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Bobby Dodd prepared the filly for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training sale, when her :10 flat breeze and impressive physical commanded a final bid of $1.8 million.

The filly easily broke her maiden at first asking at Santa Anita, winning by 6 1/4 lengths, before showing her determination in her second start to win an allowance race at Oaklawn Park. In that 1 1/16-mile contest, Gamine set the pace and dug in to defeat the well-regarded Speech (next-out second in the Santa Anita Oaks) by a neck on the wire.

Now undefeated through three career starts, Gamine boasts earnings of nearly $250,000.

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Tap It to Win Living Up to Casse’s Expectations

Even back when Tap It to Win (Tapit) lost the GI Clairborne Breeders’ Futurity by 43 1/2 lengths and the Street Sense S. by 21 1/4 lengths, Mark Casse was telling owner Charlotte Weber and anyone else who would listen that the horse was special. On Saturday, the trainer could be proven right. After some twists and turns in his 2-year-old year, Tap It to Win has won his only two starts this year and doesn’t look to be in over his head in Saturday’s GI Belmont S., this year’s first leg of the Triple Crown.

“We have a legitimate chance,” said Casse, who is seeking his third straight win in the Triple Crown series.

Tap It to Win broke his maiden last year at Saratoga in his second career start and Casse started thinking GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The problem was that he didn’t have a lot of time to work with and Casse feared that might catch up to him. He wasn’t ready for what he faced in the Breeders’ Futurity.

“It was just too much for him to handle,” Casse said. “He misbehaved coming away from the gate. He ran off. He just did everything wrong. And so I just knew it was too bad to be true.”

The Street Sense was another misadventure. Tap It to Win hit himself on the ankle coming out of the gate, which led to an injury called a sequestrum, which required surgery to remove a piece of dead bone.

“He could hardly walk for a couple of weeks,” Casse said.

That was in the fall of last year and Casse had no designs on making the Triple Crown events. Tap It to Win still isn’t nominated for the Triple Crown and had to be supplemented into the Belmont at a cost of $15,000.

The colt’s rehab went as well as could be expected and Casse had him ready for a May 9 allowance race against fellow Florida breds at Gulfstream.

“When we sent him to run at Gulfstream, I called Tyler (Gaffalione) and told him you are going to ride a different horse today,” Casse said. “I told him that I’d be surprised if this horse gets beat.”

Tap it to Win won that day by 1 1/2 lengths and resurfaced at Belmont for a June 4 allowance. With John Velazquez aboard, he ran the best race of his career, leading every step of the way on his way to a five-length win. His 97 Beyer figures makes him very competitive in the Belmont.

“That was an extremely tough allowance race the other day,” Casse said. “I was amazed and Johnny was amazed that he could run as fast as he did and keep going. Johnny said after the race that he galloped out very strong. That John has so much confidence in him gives me even more confidence.”

After the allowance race, Casse’s first thought was that he would go next in the GI Woody Stephens S. at seven furlongs. But the Belmont lost a couple of top contenders due to injury and with his horse thriving, the trainer decided to give the horse a shot in the Grade I, $1-million event. Casse doesn’t know if he will win or not, but he’s certain that Tap It to Win will be the one to catch. He drew the one post and showed exceptional early speed in his last start.

“It didn’t matter what post position he was in, he was going to come out of there running,” Casse said. “He showed the other day he can run fast and keep running, so we are not going to change any tactics with him.”

Win or lose Saturday, the development of Tap It to Win has been something Casse isn’t taking for granted. He went from a horse that the trainer thought could win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to one who looked to be in way over his head in stakes company and wasn’t even nominated to the Triple Crown. Now, he is 6-1 on the morning line in a Triple Crown race.

“It’s been very gratifying,” he said. “Mrs. Weber means the world to me and she bred this horse. I’ve always told her he was special. It’s crazy how things work out sometimes. If it wasn’t for what’s going on in the world there’s no way he’d be in the position he is. We never would have made the Kentucky Derby and if the Belmont weren’t at a mile and an eighth instead of a mile and a half we never would have run in it. Everything worked out for him.”

They also worked out for Casse, who is in a unique position. He won last year’s GI Preakness S. with War of Will (War Front), which was his first win in the Triple Crown series. Three weeks later, he struck again, winning the Belmont with Sir Winston (Awesome Again). In this most unusual year for the Triple Crown, he’s back with another contender and a chance to win three in a row.

“I hadn’t even really thought about that until recently,” he said. “A couple of people have brought it up. Yes, it’s special. Any time you can win a classic it is special. I am very proud to have won two of them. To win three would be almost unthinkable. I think we have a legitimate chance to do that.”

Casse will find out Saturday just how good this horse is. If he turns out to be everything his trainer always thought he could be, he just might end up in the winner’s circle.

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Jockeys’ Guild Issues Statement on CA Whip Rules

Jockeys’ Guild co-chairmen John Velazquez and Mike Smith and CEO Terence Meyocks issued the following statement Friday in response to the California Horse Racing Board passing more restrictive whip rules Thursday:

The Jockeys’ Guild is extremely disappointed by the actions taken by the California Horse Racing Board with regards to the riding crop. Specifically restricting the use of the riding crop to six times in the underhanded fashion throughout the entire race, as well as restricting the type of riding crop that can be used. The industry has a long history of disrespect for jockeys, going back many, many decades. That prevailing attitude was the main reason for the formation of the Guild in 1940. Incredibly, that disrespect continues to this day as evidenced by the CHRB Board and the Chairman failing to engage jockeys and the Guild in any meaningful dialogue. To completely ignore the pleas of the professional jockeys and the Guild, moving forward to adopt the two rules presented yesterday, which are both unsafe and jeopardize the integrity of the sport, is a dangerous precedent.

The jockeys put their lives on the line every day, not the members of the CHRB or those in direct opposition of our sport. And yet, the voices of respected Hall of Fame rider and Jockeys’ Guild Co-Chairman Mike Smith, as well as world-renowned and all-time leading money earning Quarter Horse jockey, G.R. Carter, and veteran rider Aaron Gryder, not to mention all of the other California jockeys who voiced their concerns about the proposals, were completely disregarded.

The Guild is deeply troubled by the process. Starting in March of 2019, the Guild has crafted various proposals with regards to the riding crop, which were dismissed, overlooked, and sometimes not even acknowledged. Instead, the CHRB insisted on jamming through the rules rather than even considering the Guild’s reasonable and compromising proposals.

Then to add insult to injury, the Chairman of the CHRB, Dr. Greg Ferraro, labeled the jockeys as part of the problem. Chairman Ferraro said, “We’re never going to please the jocks. They don’t want to do anything but keep the status quo.” Nothing could be further from the truth and is beyond offensive. Over the past decade, the Guild has worked with the other entities in the industry, including the CHRB, and has been more than willing to compromise on issues in the best interest of racing. The Guild was at the forefront of changes to the riding crop after the issues surrounding Eight Belles and the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Furthermore, as stated throughout the whole process, and again yesterday by representatives of the Guild, we completely recognize the need to change the existing use of riding crop rules. The Guild has actively been engaging in meetings throughout the country, not just in California, to establish a uniform rule.

The recent decision on the use of the riding crop is set to fail. It is based on the CHRB’s response to perception and as opposed to doing what is right for the industry. The CHRB’s decision was done to pacify the radical animal rights organizations and the individuals who have made clear of their intention to abolish racing. Additionally, the Manager of Policy and Regulations for the CHRB inferred that its role was about pleasing Sacramento. This speaks volumes about the CHRB’s attitude and subsequent dismissal of what is in the best interest of racing and we believe definitely swayed the vote.

The CHRB Chairman and Board also disregarded statements from representatives of the Guild, as well as Aidan Butler of The Stronach Group, Nick Alexander of the TOC, and Alan Balch of CTT, asking for a limited extension before any adoption of the rule. These requests were made in the hopes of reaching a unified rule, created by all industry participants, which could be adopted throughout the United States. We strongly believe that the implementation of the CHRB rules as presented yesterday will have a detrimental impact on the entire industry, including the owners, betting public, racetracks, and horsemen.

Furthermore, the rule as adopted, only allows for the jockeys to use a crop with a cylinder popper, which as of now is only being made by one company. Its decision fails to consider the jockeys input, including the fact when the jockeys had used it during racing, many broke at the tip and poppers fell off during a race. This riding crop has also proved difficult to use when switching hands. Any proposed changes should have been fully evaluated in the “real world” to access the performance, as well as the effectiveness of the changes, just as has been done in the past. The Guild has repeatedly stated that we have been and will continue to be supportive of improvements made to the equipment, including the riding crops, whether it be the design or material, that are in the best interest of the horse. In order to move forward, the Guild had requested to allow for the use of the existing cushioned riding crop, as well the newly introduced cylinder riding crop. However, the CHRB has continued to refuse to even consider the proposal or engage in conversations with the riders who are most impacted by its decisions.

Unfortunately, it is evident, now more than ever before, that the CHRB does not view jockeys as essential and equal stakeholders in this industry. Instead, we are viewed as second class citizens or even worse. However, the Guild and the jockeys we represent refuse to accept this point of view. We will continue to fight for the livelihoods and safety for our members and the betterment of our sport. In doing so, the Guild will continue to work with the industry and other jurisdictions for a fair national riding crop rule. If California opts to institute its own regulations regarding the riding crop and its usage, it will not be in the interest of racing in the United States.

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